Roberto Martinez is destined to become one of the best managers in the world.

That is the view of ­Sunderland’s Jordi Gomez, who admits the Everton boss has been his mentor.

Gomez, who rubbed shoulders with Lionel Messi in his Barcelona ‘B’ days, has a reunion with Martinez when Everton visit Wearside on Sunday.

After Wigan missed out on promotion in last season’s play-offs, 29-year-old Gomez moved to Sunderland as a free agent.

There was talk of him linking up again with Martinez, who took him to Swansea in a 2008 loan switch from Espanyol.

Martinez made the midfielder his first signing as Wigan boss the following summer, and he was in the 2013 FA Cup-winning side who were relegated three days after stunning Manchester City at Wembley.

Everton then beckoned for Martinez, and Gomez said: “He gave me the chance to come to Britain, so I’m always grateful to him. At Swansea, he helped me a lot and when we were at Wigan. To be honest, I learned a lot from him.

“My year at Swansea was brilliant. He knows how to deal with players and he knows the football side as well.

“He’s a very good manager already, but with all due respect to Everton, he has everything to become one of the top managers in the world.

(Image: Action Images)

“I would probably still be at Wigan if he was there. He’s brilliant. I scored at Everton in the FA Cup when we won it with Wigan – that was nice.’’

Gomez said of Barca days: “When you’re in the academy, you want to get into the first team. But Barcelona is one of the top clubs in the world and it’s quite difficult. At the same time, you learn a lot. I played with Messi and Gerard Pique.’’

Meanwhile, Sunderland boss Gus Poyet also revealed his admiration for Martinez, who was the first to console him after Sunderland’s 8-0 rout at Southampton last month.

Poyet and Martinez were together at Real Zaragoza and the Black Cats’ boss said: “We’ve been exchanging texts, especially about the 8-0, as that happened to him with Wigan at Chelsea.

“I think he will manage in the Champions League. How long? It depends on him. He’s very loyal.”